Midland Radio WR-300 User Manual
All Hazards Weather
Alert Radio
WR300
Owner’s Manual
www.midlandusa.com
WR300 Owner’s Manual
Quick Start Instructions:
Please see pg. 5 for important buttons and controls.
1. Place 4 AA batteries (not supplied) into the compartment on the underside of the radio (Note:
batteries are important because they provide emergency power for the radio in case of a power
outage).
2. Plug the AC adapter into a standard house outlet. Plug the other end of the adapter into the DC
jack on the back of the radio.
3. Pull out the antenna and extend to its full length above the weather radio.
4. Program the Weather Channel for Your Areaa. Turn the radio on with power/volume wheel on side of the radio (Ensure the volume is up so
you will be able to hear the broadcast).
b. Press the “MENU” button.
c. Press the “UP” (or “DOWN”) arrow until “WEATHER CHANNEL” is displayed on the LCD.
d. Press the “SELECT” button.
e. Press the “UP” arrow to manually scroll to the desired channel (Find the channel for your
area by visiting http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrbro.htm and reviewing the corresponding
frequency and channel for your area using the chart on page 2 of this Owner’s Manual).
f. Press the “SELECT” button to save this channel.
g. Press the “MENU” button to exit programming mode.
5. Press the “WEATHER/HAZARD ON/OFF” button to listen to the weather radio. Then use the
power/volume wheel to adjust the volume to a desired listening level.
You are now able to receive weather alerts for your area and surrounding areas. To narrow the
alerts to just your county, see pg. 8 to program the S.A.M.E. code for your county into the radio.
Weather Channel Frequencies:
Channels Preset on the
Weather Radio
1 162.400
2 162.425
3 162.450
4 162.475
5 162.500
6 162.525
7 162.550
Broadcast Frequency (MHz)
To get the S.A.M.E. code for your area, call
1-888-697-7263 or visit
Page 2
www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm
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WR300 Owner’s Manual
Table of Contents
Quick Start Instructions: ................................................................................................................... 2
Product Information: ......................................................................................................................... 4
WR300 Controls: .............................................................................................................................. 5
Icons on the Display: ........................................................................................................................ 5
LCD Backlighting:.............................................................................................................................5
Accessory Jacks: .............................................................................................................................5
Set the Time: .................................................................................................................................... 6
Set the Date: ....................................................................................................................................6
Set the Alarm Time: .........................................................................................................................6
Choosing Alarm Type:......................................................................................................................6
Set the Channel: ..............................................................................................................................7
Programming Notes: ........................................................................................................................7
Getting your S.A.M.E. County Codes:..............................................................................................7
Programming County Codes: ........................................................................................................... 8
“ALL” County Codes:........................................................................................................................8
“Single” County Codes: .................................................................................................................... 8
“Multiple” County Codes:..................................................................................................................8
Reviewing Stored S.A.M.E. Codes: .................................................................................................9
Choosing an Alert Type (Voice or Siren):.........................................................................................9
To Turn the Alert ON and OFF:........................................................................................................9
Setting the Alert Volume: .................................................................................................................9
Selectable Alert Option: ...................................................................................................................9
Selectable Alert Reference Chart:..................................................................................................10
Testing the Alert: ............................................................................................................................ 13
Reviewing Alerts: ...........................................................................................................................13
Test Signals Broadcast by NWS: ................................................................................................... 13
No Reception Warning: .................................................................................................................. 13
AM/FM Radio: ................................................................................................................................14
Turning the AM/FM Radio On: .......................................................................................................14
Changing AM/FM Stations: ............................................................................................................14
AM/FM Memory Channels: ............................................................................................................14
Troubleshooting: ............................................................................................................................15
Reception: ...................................................................................................................................... 16
About NOAA, NWS, & S.A.M.E. County Codes: ............................................................................ 17
S.A.M.E. County Code Record: .....................................................................................................18
Specifications: ................................................................................................................................ 19
FCC Compliance Information: ........................................................................................................ 19
Limited Warranty: ........................................................................................................................... 20
Service: ..........................................................................................................................................21
Accessories: ................................................................................................................................... 22
Accessories Order Form: ...............................................................................................................23
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WR300 Owner’s Manual
Product Information:
Thank you for choosing Midland! Your new WR300 weather radio is the latest in weather and
hazard alert monitoring technology, providing you with the information needed to keep you safe.
Your WR300 weather radio has a special receiver that tunes to the 24/7 broadcast issued by the
National Weather Service. The combined All Hazards/Weather Alert broadcast network is the
single, most immediate source for comprehensive weather and emergency information available
to the public.
This WR300 weather radio has an innovative automatic alert system. In the event of a special
warning broadcast, the radio is automatically activated along with a loud tone, a flashing LED
indicator and an “alert” message on the LCD. Emergency weather bulletins include alerts about:
tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, ice/snow storms and other severe weather. Other emergencies
might include: Amber alert, hazardous explosions, fires, chemical spills and other civil emergencies.
In addition, this WR300 weather radio has the “S.A.M.E. Digital Weather/Hazard Alert” feature,
providing you with constant monitoring of your localized NWS broadcast. The S.A.M.E. decoding receiver allows you to hear only messages for the area(s) concerning you. You now have a
choice as to what information will be brought to you.
We encourage you to read this owner’s manual thoroughly before operating this
radio. This manual is a valuable part of your new weather radio. See the “Quick Start
Instructions” section of this manual for the initial weather radio setup and programming.
After your new weather radio is programmed and operating properly, store the manual in a
safe place for future reference.
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WR300 Owner’s Manual
WR300 Controls:
Snooze
Button
Alert
On/OFF
Weather/ Hazard
On/OFF Button
AM/FM
Button
Radio Button
Warning
Light-Red
Watch
Light-Orange
Advisory
Light-Yellow
Icons on the Display:
Alphanumeric
Message
County Code
Indicator
Programming
(Arrow)
Buttons
Alarm Clock
On/Off Switch
Power On/Off
and Volume
Wheel
Menu Button
Select Button
Time Indicator
Clock Alarm
Weather
Channel
Indicator
Alert Type
Indicator
Low Battery
indicator
LCD Backlighting:
Press and release any button to turn the backlight on for 5 seconds. For continuous backlight,
press the “MENU” button, then the press the “DOWN” arrow until “LIGHT” displays on the screen.
Then press the “SELECT” button. Then press the “UP” arrow to change the backlight setting from
“NORMAL” to “CONTINUOUS.” Press the “SELECT” button to save your settings.
Accessory Jacks:
External
Antenna
Connector
Page 5
DC Jack
Programming
Cable Port
External
Alert Jack
Earphone
Jack
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WR300 Owner’s Manual
Setting the AM/FM Clock Radio Functions:
Set the Time:
a. Turn on the weather radio with power/volume wheel on side of the radio.
b. Press the “MENU” button.
c. Press the “DOWN” arrow button until “SET UP TIME” is displayed.
d. Press the “SELECT” button, hour setting will begin to flash.
e. Press the “UP” button to adjust the hour setting. (Note: the AM/PM setting cannot be
manually changed; it changes automatically as you scroll through the hours).
f. Press the “RIGHT” arrow to adjust minutes and save your hour setting
g. Press the “UP” button to adjust the minute setting.
h. Press the “SELECT” button to store the time setting.
i. Press the “MENU” button to return to the main menu.
Set the Date:
a. Turn on the weather radio with power/volume wheel on side of the radio.
b. Press the “MENU” button.
c. Press the “DOWN” arrow until “SET UP DATE” is displayed.
d. Press the “SELECT” button.
e. Press the “UP” arrow to adjust the day.
f. Press the “RIGHT” arrow to select the month.
g. Press the “UP” arrow to adjust the month.
h. Press the “RIGHT” arrow to select the year.
i. Press the “UP” arrow to adjust the Year.
j. Press the “SELECT” button to store DAY/MONTH/YEAR.
k. Press the “MENU” button to return to the main menu.
Set the Alarm Time:
a. Turn on the weather radio with power/volume wheel on side of the radio.
b. Press the “MENU” button.
c. Press the “DOWN” arrow until “SET UP ALARM” is displayed.
d. Press the “SELECT” button. The alarm hour setting will begin to flash.
e. Press the “UP” arrow to adjust the alarm hour setting. (Note: the AM/ PM setting cannot be
manually changed; it changes automatically as you scroll through the hours).
f. Press the “RIGHT” arrow to choose setting alarm minutes.
g. Press the “UP” arrow to adjust the alarm minute setting.
h. Press the “SELECT” button to store the alarm settings.
Choosing Alarm Type:
a. Press the “MENU” button.
b. Use the “UP” arrow to choose radio or sound for clock alarm. (The icons are located below
the clock display).
c. Press the “SELECT” button to store the type of alarm setting.
d. To activate the alarm, set the “ALARM OFF/ON” switch to the “ON” position. The clock face
icon will appear.
e. The “SNOOZE” button on the top of the WR300 is for advancing the alarm time by 9 minutes
each time the alarm sounds. The “SNZ” icon will be displayed.
f. Turn the alarm off with the ”ALARM OFF/ON” switch on side of the radio.
g. Press the “UP” arrow to adjust the alarm minute setting.
Page 6
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WR300 Owner’s Manual
Set the Channel:
a. Press the “MENU” button.
b. Press the “UP” (or “DOWN”) arrow until “WEATHER CHANNEL” is displayed on the LCD.
c. Press the “SELECT” button.
d. Press the “UP” arrow to manually scroll to the desired channel (Find the channel for your
area by visiting http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrbro.htm and reviewing the corresponding
frequency and channel for your area using the chart on page 2 of this Owner’s Manual).
e. Press the “SELECT” button to save this channel.
f. Press the “MENU” button to exit programming mode.
Programming Notes:
*Your WR300 can be programmed with up to 23 different S.A.M.E. codes for your county and the
surrounding counties of your choice. This ensures you receive alerts for only those counties concerning you.
* Please note: Embedded in an alert message is the amount of time for which the alert is active.
The WR300 will continue to display the alert until the expiration time. Ex: END 12-55P indicates
the event ends at 12:55 PM.
Getting your S.A.M.E. County Codes:
First, determine the counties you are interested in. Then, do one of the following three steps to
get the codes:
a. The National Weather Service Toll-Free Number provides S.A.M.E. County
Codes at:1-888-NWS-S.A.M.E. (1-888-697-7263)
This is what to expect when you call the NWS number. When you call the NWS
toll-free number, automated instructions will guide you to the S.A.M.E. County
Code(s) you need. The number will be six digits long.
• You will hear “Welcome to the National Weather Service. You have reached the Specific
Area Message Encoding Program Service.”
• If you select “touch tone” to make your entries, you will be prompted to enter the name of
your state using the telephone keypad.
• Next you will be prompted to enter your county name.
• Then you will hear, “Your geographic code is XXXXXX.” (This is your S.A.M.E. County
Code.
b. The Internet Web Site of National Weather Service - www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm
When you pull up this URL, you will see a list of states.
• Click on your state.
• Find your county, and record the S.A.M.E. number listed next to your county.
c. Go to the Midland Radio Corporation website at www.midlandusa.com
• Click on the weather radio link at the top of the page.
• At the top of the weather radio page will be a link to the NWS list of states and
corresponding county codes. Click on this link.
• Click on your state and a list of counties and codes will be listed. Find your county and then
find your code.
Page 7
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WR300 Owner’s Manual
Programming County Codes:
Helpful Tip: The S.A.M.E. code is created using the following method:
• The first digit is the subcounty code-currently 0 in most areas.
• The second two digits represent the state code.
• The last three digits represent the county code.
“ALL” County Codes:
Your WR300 weather radio is preprogrammed to receive NWS weather and hazard alert
transmissions for all S.A.M.E. county codes within range. If this is what you want, leave the radio
set to “ALL.” This is the default setting.
“Single” County Codes:
a. Press the “MENU” button to open menu options.
b. Press the “UP” arrow to scroll through menu options until “County Code” is displayed.
c. Press the “SELECT” button and then the “UP” arrow to scroll through ”SINGLE”, “MULTIPLE”
or “ALL.”
d. Display “SINGLE”, then press the “SELECT” button.
e. “Code 01” will be displayed. Press the “SELECT” button to program this code. The first digit
space will start blinking.
f. Use the “UP” arrow to scroll through the digits 0-9. Input the first digit then press the “RIGHT”
arrow to save that selection and move to the next digit.
g. Continue programming all 6 digits in this way. When finished, press the “SELECT” button and
your entered code will be saved.
“Multiple” County Codes:
a. Press the “MENU” button to open menu options.
b. Press the “UP” arrow to scroll through menu options until “County Code” is displayed.
c. Press the “SELECT” button and then the “UP” arrow to scroll through “SINGLE”, “MULTIPLE”
or “ALL.”
d. Display “MULTIPLE”, then press “SELECT.”
e. Use the “UP” arrow to scroll through code locations 1-23. You are able to program up to 23
different county codes into your WR300 weather radio.
f. Display the location you want then press the “SELECT” button. The first digit space will start
blinking.
g. Use the “UP” arrow to scroll through the digits 0-9. Input the first digit then press the “RIGHT”
arrow to save that selection and move to the next digit.
h. Continue programming all 6 digits in this way. When finished, press the “SELECT” button and
your entered code will be saved.
i. To program your next code, press the “UP” arrow to go to the next code location.
j. When you have entered all your desired codes, press the “MENU” button to store your
settings.
Page 8
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